Nordic ringtest on INDF content and NDF degradationcharacteristics in three feeds

NDF and indigestible NDF (INDF) content in barley, rapeseed meal and grass silage was measured in fi ve research laboratories. NDF content (%DM) was similar for grass silage (50-52%), but varied from 21 to 25% in barley and from 19 to 31% in rapeseed meal. The variation in INDF content was also high, mainly due to differences in NDF analysis of the residue. Differences in effective rumen NDF degradability were also high for grass silage (52-64%), barley (50-70%) and rapeseed meal (38-56%), respectively. This ringtest underlines the need for standardization of the NDF analysis and of in situ procedures.